ENRICHMENT OF HEAVY WATER BY THERMAL DIFFUSION

Equations of the best wire angle of inclination for the maximum separation, maximum output and minimum column height for enrichment of heavy water in a concentric-tube wired thermal diffusion column have been derived. Considerable improvements in performance were obtained by employing the wired column instead of using the open column (without wire). It was also found that the wire inclination for maximum separation is also the wire inclination required to obtain the maximum production rate, or minimum column height, for a specified degree of separation.